Rotary air-compressor.



' Nb MODEL.

,PATENTED JUNE '7, 1904.

I G. A. I. AHLBERG. ROTARY- AIR COMPRESSOR.

.APPLIOATIO NYPILED 8EPT.26 ,1 903.

, I Wiizzsseaf: minus vnzns co. monu'mm, WAMMQTON o. c

4 SKBETSSHBET- 1.

fnzzenajr PATBNTBD JUNE 7, 1904.

a. A. F. AHLBERG. ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28,1903.

I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

No; 761,933. PATENTED JUNE'7,19'04.

G. A. F. AHLBERG.

ROTARY AIR GOMPRESSOR.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26,1903. N0 MODEL. 4 SHBETS-SKEBT 3- 4' SHEET$SHEET 4.

PATENTED JUNE 7,1904. G. A. F. AHLBERG. ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR. A'PPLIUATION TILED SEPT. 26,1903.

no MODEL.

Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV A. F. AHLBERG, IITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,933, dated June *7, 1904.

Application filed September 26, 1903. Serial No. 174,729. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv A. F. AI-ILBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsbu rg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inRotary Air-Com pressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary air-compressors, and more particularly to that class in which a frame having one or more cylinders mounted thereon is journaled upon-a stationary ported bearing or valve, each of the cylinders being providedwith a piston and. means for reciprocating the same as the cylinder-frame is rotated. In air-compressors of this type as heretofore constructed it h as been founddiflicult to maintain a perfectly smooth, tight, and durable bearing of the cylinder-casing upon the stationary valve, due.

partly to the strains caused by the means forreciprocating the pistons, which were often operated byeccentrics supported upon the valve itself, so that when run at high speeds the bearing began to wear unevenly and was often forced out of axial alinement.

One of the principal objects of thisinven- 'tion is to provide improved bearings for the means for reciprocating the pistons, which bearings shall be rigidly supported independent of the stationary valve.

Other features of my invention relate to the stationary ported valve, the means for rotating the cylinder-frame, and various other parts hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a View in side elevation of my improved ro tary air-compressor coupled with a drivingmotor. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line II II of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a partialsimilar View on the line III III of Fig. 4. Fig. 41 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on the line IV IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view through the compression-port on the line V V of Fig. 4, the pistons having been partially advanced.

, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the central stationary-cylinder-frame bearing provided with inlet and outlet chambers and ports. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through said bearing on the line VII VII of Fig. 2; and Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views showing modified constructions of cam-controlled piston-actuating mechanism, Fig. 9 being taken on the line IX IX of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 is a base .of any suitable construction, but preferably provided with a basin at its lower portion for collection of oil.

which the operative portions of the apparatus are contained, consisting of a cylindrical .body portion 8, having supporting-flanges and heads 4: and 5. Each of such heads is provided with a centrally-disposed tapered opening for the stationary bearing stem or valve and driving-shaft, respectively, and the heads have on their inner portions bearings center of the machine.

7 is a centrally-disposed cylindrical stationary bearing or valve provided with an extended stem 8, preferably tapered and tightly held in the tapered opening in head 4 by nut 9, engaging threaded portion 10 of the stem. The stem is prevented from turning by a key "11 or any other suitable means. The bearing 7 is provided on its periphery with an outletport 12, adapted to receive the compressed air from the cylinders when in register, an extension 12 of such portcommunicating with and adapted to deliver the compressed air to a central outlet-pipe 13. On a different diametrical plane is an inlet-port 14:, somewhat longer than port 12, adapted to communicate with each cylinder during the time when its piston is traveling outwardly and taking a new charge by suction. The port 1 communicates through an extension-port 14: with the hollow interior 15 of the bearing and its stem around the outlet-pipe 13. Air is supplied to cavity 15 by means of a hollow coupling 16, screwed upon the outer threaded end of stem 8 and provided with a'supply-pipe 17, leading from any source, or, if preferred, air may be taken in through the open end of the stem from the surrounding atmosphere.

Rotatably mounted on the cylindrical bearing-stem 7 preferably with an. intervening bushing 18, is the cylinder-frame 19, on which are carried either integrally or separately one 6, eccentrically disposed with relation to the Upon the base 2 1s mounted a case within or more, but preferably four, cylinders 20, radially disposed from the center of the frame and its bearing 7 Through the base of each cylinder and bushing 18 is an inlet suctionport 21, adapted to communicate with port 14, and an outlet compression-port 22, adapted to communicate with port 12 at proper positions of the cylinder, respectively, and corresponding to the outward and inward movements of the pistons under control of the eccentrically-governed operating mechanism.

Mounted in each cylinder is a piston 23, provided with suitable packing-rings and having at its outer end a transverse rod or shaft 24 or other suitable equivalent, as projecting studs, with which are pivotally connected the outer end of links 25. The bearing 6 is circular, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, its center being offset or eccentric to the axial center of the machine and of the central cylinder-frame bearing 7 a distance equal to one-half of the desired stroke of the pistons.

26 is a driving-shaft mounted in a bearing in head 5, preferably with a Babbitt bearing 27, while the surrounding oil-chamber 28 is provided and also a lubricator 29, adapted to oil the shaft or spindle 26. The spindle 26 is provided with spider-arms 30 or otherwise suitably formed and is thereby attached to the cylinder-frame 19 at one end, as clearly shown, while the other end projects beyond the casing and is connected with any suitable driving means, as an electric motor 31. It may, however, be driven by belt and pulley or any other equivalent device.

The links 25 are pivotally connected with eccentric-rings 32, mounted on the outside of eccentric-bearing 6, while the cylinder-frame is provided with radial slots 33 at each side to provide a guide for the rods 24, by which the pistons are reciprocated.

If desired, two rigid yokes 34 may be substituted at each side for the eccentric rings and links, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this construction the yokes 34 are provided with oppositely-extending arms 35, located side by side on the eccentric-bearings 6 at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 9, the arms 35, terminating in bearing-extremities 36, embracing the ends of cross-rods 24. At their middle portions the yokes are provided with elongated or elliptical bearing-openings 37 for the eccentrics 6 to permit the yokes to move freely with the rods 24 and pistons, as the yokes are actuated to move these parts.

The eccentric-bearings 6 are carried directly by the sides or heads of the casing and are made sufficiently large so that the openings for the stationary valve-stem on one side and the shaft-bearing on the other side may be made directly through these eccentric portions. By means of this connection these eccentric-bearings are firmly supported on the base of the machine, and the lateral strains, due to the reciprocating movement of the pissuitable ton, acting through the eccentric rings and connections, will have no tendency to loosen or bend the stationary valve-stem nor to force the same out of true alinement with the shaftbearing, thus producing a very :ulvantageous arrangement and one that is essential to the operation of rotary air-eompressors at high rates of speed.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the cylinder-frame and cylinders are rotated on bearing 7 by shaft 26, their contained pistons 23, rods 24, links 25, and eceentrie-rings 32 are likewise carried around, and the rings 32 by reason of being mounted on a centereccentric to that of shaft 26 and bearing 7 will cause each piston to reciprocate outwardly during one half of the revolution and inwardly duringtheotherhalf. Duringtheoutwardmovement of each piston air is drawn inwardly to the cylinder during the time port 24 is in register with port 14, as in Fig. 2, and when the movement is reversed the contained air will be compressed until port 22 comes into register with port 12, allowing the air to escape outwardly through pipe 13 to a storage-tank orothersuitablereservoir. Anydesiredmunber of cylinders and pistons may be employed, according to the size and capacity of the ma 1 chine, or other changes and variations may be made in the details of construction by the skilled mechanic within the scope of the claims.

The invention may also be used as a rotary motor by supplying expansion fluid through pipe 13 and ports 12 and 22 to the cylindercavities, the exhaust returning through ports 21 and 14 and channel 15. The operation of the device will then be reversed, and power will be transmitted through shaft 26, which maybe coupled with any utilizing mechanism.

'hile it is of advantage to have the surrounding case tight, it may be largely dispensed with, if desired, by merely providing the central and eccentric bearings. The moving parts are lubricated by oil intrmlueed through the openings 34.

Having now described I claim as new, and desire Patent, is

1. A rotary fLlF-COHIDIOSSOI comprising a base having side frames or heads, a stationary ported hearing or valve supported in an openmy invention, what to secure by Letters ing in one of said side frames, a shaft haying a bearing in an opening in the opposite side frame in alinement with said valve, a cylinder-frame secured to said shaft and carrying a plurality of cylinders rotatably mounted on said stationary valve, the cylinders having ports cooperating with those of said valve, pistons for said cylinders, an eccentrio-bearing supported on each of said side frames, and

means operatingon said eccentric-bearin gs for reciprocating said pistons.

2. A rotary air-compressor comprising a staor valve, a cylindertionary ported hearing frame carrying a plurality of cylinders rotatably mounted on said stationary valveand having corresponding ports, pistons for said cylinders, eccentric-bearings rigidly support- 5 ed independently of said'valve, means mounted on said bearings for reciprocating the pistons, and a shaft passing through one of said eccentric-bearings and secured to the cylinderframe.

r o 3. A rotary air-compressor comprising a stationary portedbearing or valve, a cylinderi'rame carrying a plurality of cylinders rotatably mounted on said stationary valve and having corresponding ports, a shaft secured to said cylinder-frame, pistons in said cylinders, stationary eccentric-bearings surrounding the stem of the ported bearing and the shaft respectively and rigidly supported independently of the valve, and means operating on said eccentric-bearings for reciprocating said pistons.

4. A rotary air-compressor consisting of a stationary stem-bearing provided with an in ternal inlet-passageand a peripheral port, an

interior outlet-pipe within said passage communicating with a peripheral outlet-port on a different transverse plane, a cylinder-frame rotatabl y mounted on the hearing and provided with a plurality of cylinders having suction and compression ports adapted to communicate with said peripheral ports, a plurality of pistons mounted in said cylinders, and means for rotating the cylinder-frame around the central bearing andfor reciprocating the pis- 3 5 tons therein.

5'. A- rotary air-compressor consisting of a stationary stem-bearing provided with an internal inlet-passage and a peripheral port, an interior outlet-pipe within said passage com- 40 municating with a peripheral outlet-port on a diifere nt transverse plane, a cylinder-frame rotatably mounted on the stationary bearing and provided with a plurality of cylinders having suction and compression ports adapted to communicate with said peripheral ports, a plurality oi pistons mounted within the cylinders, and provided with cross-arms, station ary eccentric-hearings located at each side oi the cylinderframe, rings mounted on said bearings provided with links connected with the piston cross-arms, and means for rotating the cylinder-frame, pistons, links and rings.

6. A rotary air-compressor consisting of a stationary stem-hearing provided with aninternal inlet-passage and a peripheral port, an 5 5 interior outlet-pipe within said passage communicating with a peripheral outlet-port on a different transverse plane, a cylinder-frame rotatably mounted on the stationary bearing and provided with a plurality of cylinders hav- 6O ing suction and compression ports adapted to communicate with said peripheral ports, a plurality of pistons mounted within the cylinders and provided with cross-arms, stationary eccentric-bearings located at each side of the cyl 6 5 inder-frame, rings mounted on said bearings provided with links connected with the piston cross-arms, and a driving-shaft mounted in a bearing at one side of the cylinder-frame and connected therewith and adapted to rotate it 7 around the stationary central stem-bearing.

7 A rotary air-compressor comprising a casing having oppositely-located openings, a stem held stationary in one of the openings and provided with internal .inlet and outlet passages and peripheral ports, a cylinder-frame rotatably mounted on said stem and provided with cylinders having suction and compression ports, pistons mounted in said cylinders provided With cross-arms, eccentric-bearings sur- 8O rounding said openings at each side of the cylinder-frame, rings mounted thereon provided with pivoted links connected with the piston cross arms, and a drivingshaft rotatably mounted in the other of said openings and con- 5 nected with the cylinder-frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

. GUSTAV A. F. AHLBERG. WVitnesses:

R. F. EMERY, Ms B. MACDONALD. 

